Former Senate President David Mark on Wednesday moved to calm rising tensions within the African Democratic Congress, assuring party members and Nigerians that the ongoing crisis does not threaten the party’s unity.
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His intervention came as leaders and members of the ADC joined a large demonstration in Abuja, protesting decisions by the Independent National Electoral Commission that they said undermined democracy and the party’s internal leadership.
Mark, the embattled national chairman of the ADC, spoke at a church service held in his honour to mark his 78th birthday on Wednesday.
“On the issue of the ongoing developments within our great party, the African Democratic Congress, I wish to assure our members and Nigerians at large that there is no cause for alarm,” he said.
He described the tensions as part of a natural process, signalling that the party is evolving rather than fracturing.
“Challenges are a natural part of any growing institution. What is important is our collective resolve to overcome them,” Mark added.
The former Senate President stressed that the party’s core remains solid, with its leadership and members aligned on the bigger goal.
“We remain united, determined, and focused on strengthening the party and upholding democratic values,” he said.
Beyond the immediate crisis, Mark widened the lens, linking the party’s stability to the broader health of Nigeria’s democracy.
“Let me reiterate that we are fully committed to the survival of democracy and the development of our dear nation, Nigeria,” he said.
“We will continue to work tirelessly, guided by discipline, integrity, and patriotism, to ensure that our democratic institutions are preserved and that the dividends of democracy reach all our people.”
Reflecting on his 78th birthday, Mark struck a personal note, expressing gratitude while signalling that his role in national affairs is far from over.
“At 78, my resolve remains unshaken. I am inspired more than ever to contribute my quota to national unity, peace, and progress,” he said.
Meanwhile, the protest tagged #OccupyINEC drew former presidential candidates and prominent politicians to Maitama Roundabout in Abuja.
Among those who participated were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, and Senator Dino Melaye.
Hundreds of Kwankwasiyya members also participated in the demonstration.
The demonstration saw participants singing Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots!” despite the fact that it was replaced on May 29, 2024, by President Bola Tinubu with the country’s 1960 independence anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
The ADC confirmed that the act was done “in an act of defiance.”
Several demonstrators held placards supporting Senator David Mark, including ones that read, “In David Mark’s NWC we trust.”
Addressing the protest, former presidential candidate Peter Obi spoke on behalf of ADC members and other opposition leaders, urging Nigerians to defend the country’s democracy.
“We, members and leaders of the ADC, and other well-meaning Nigerians, lovers of democracy, are saying that our democracy must not be killed,” Obi stated on X.
“We say NO to a one-party system, and for that, today we’re calling out Nigerians who believe in unity, peace, and security of our country to join us as we defend democracy in our land.”
The protest follows INEC’s recent decision to no longer accept correspondence from either faction of the ADC led by Senator David Mark or Nafiu Bala, after a Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s leadership dispute.
ADC and other opposition groups described the move as a restriction on party autonomy and an interference with internal party affairs.
National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, had earlier explained that the demonstration aimed to mobilise Nigerians in defence of democracy.
“This commission is now becoming the arbiter, judge, accuser and defender at the same time. Our major issue is the manner in which INEC has been going about creating disaffection in the opposition,” Tanko stated.
“The people are really angry and plan to show this anger by coming out. So, we’ll expect them to come out en masse for a peaceful rally. Then we’ll just demonstrate and protest.”
The combination of David Mark’s calming birthday remarks and the massive #OccupyINEC protest represents a two-pronged approach by the ADC coalition to address its crisis.
On one hand, Mark is seeking to project stability and unity, assuring members that the party will weather the storm. On the other hand, the coalition is mobilising public pressure against INEC through street demonstrations featuring some of Nigeria’s most prominent political figures.
The presence of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola at the same protest — representing different political tendencies united under the ADC banner — demonstrates the coalition’s continued cohesion despite the legal challenges.
The singing of the old national anthem “in an act of defiance” symbolises the coalition’s broader opposition to the Tinubu administration, extending beyond the immediate INEC dispute.
For INEC, the protest represents significant pressure from a coalition that includes multiple former presidential candidates and governors demanding recognition and the ability to participate in the 2027 elections.
The coming days will reveal whether the combination of legal action, public protest, and political pressure will produce a resolution to the ADC crisis — or whether the party will remain paralysed as the 2027 election timeline advances.
Mark’s 78th birthday message that his “resolve remains unshaken” suggests the former Senate President has no intention of stepping aside, setting the stage for continued confrontation with INEC and the rival factions claiming control of the party.
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